Dear Family and Friends,
Hey, it's been a while since I've had a full hour and a half for email time. I made sure we're doing it first today. So, transfer emails came. And, I'm transferring. But my next area is going to be a way hard culture shock. Next transfer, I've been called to serve in Yokosuka. My companion and I will be over the Military Ward and the Japanese Branch. Well, it's way interesting. Because that means I'll be attending church in English and then going to church in Japanese. Five hours of church every week, and at least three member meals and tons of American people.... Sighhhhh. I love the Japanese people. But I also love America people. So I guess that is why my companion will be Sister Ogawa! We are going to rock it! I am so excited. President Wada asked what I thought about it, and I told him I was comfortable with it. The Spirit helped me feel that it's where I need to go. It'll be great, I know it! I am learning so much about faith right now. Our faith has the power to change the course of events. And I have been lacking in faith recently. I am sad to be leaving Shonan Ward. I've been here for three transfers, and it has been picking up recently. The work will continue to move forward, and it's because of the members. So, there's a downside to riding bikes everywhere. You end up swallowing bugs. >.< on at least three different occasions these last two weeks, I accidentally swallowed bugs while riding my bicycle. Haha. It's what I get for breathing through my mouth. Well, lots of crazy things happened. First! Last week on Tuesday I was able to participate in a wondeful training on three new pamphlets that were made specifically for people without a Christian background! I am excited to use them! But the best thing about the training was who taught us. When I was at the MTC, I attended a meeting that was for the missionaries going to Japan, and he challenged us to speak only Japanese for our last two weeks, and not speak English. Well, it changed my mission. And not to mention increased my faith. It was him who taught us about using the pamphlets. I was surprised and delighted to see him there. He didn't remember it (it was a whole year or so ago, after all) but he was humble, and said that if anything good came out of it, we know where that came from, pointing upwards. He is pretty amazing at Japanese himself. His name is Brother Mills. So, Happy Father's Day! And this week is Independence Day. I bet in my hometown it already is going off everywhere. Be safe, ok? ^.^ around September is when the fireworks go off here. Everyone's celebrating the end of Summer while they can before school starts. And then you hear cannons go off everywhe.... Oh wait, hold on, I'm spending Fourth of July on a base......... Just when you think you're in Japan. どうしよう😧 Well, I think that's all for today. I testified yesterday at church, because it was my last Sunday in Shonan. President Wada was there on a special visit. And I testified about how Jesus, in His last moments with His disciples didn't focus on how He was leaving, but His main focus was to strengthen them. He was indeed the perfect example. I love Shonan Ward. Love, Sister Blake This is really a last minutes email! Haha. Maybe it's a June thing.
Last year in June I had no time for emails either. Haha. Sigh.. ごめんなさい m(_ _)m Wo transfers being next week, we'll see how much time I get! :) love you all, the gospel is so true! The Lord guides the work. It is such a blessing Dear Family and Friends, Excuse the video at the end of this email. :) it was just what I was feeling at the time. The work is going good now. There are more promised blessings ahead as we continue to open our mouths and share what we know to be true. How is the faith in the world going? What about the way the church is going? I love this church. I love the truth. I believe that the church is true. How do I know? God has told me. He will speak to us if we "listen". Here's a fun fact about Japanese. The word for "listen" also can mean "to ask". 聞く This last week was full of activity. On Monday last week, we cleaned, and cleaned, and cleaned, and made our apartment way pretty. Well, then, we had Tuesday, and on Tuesday, we had a really awesome zone meeting, and afterwards went to Tabehodai(all you can eat) Shabu-Shabu(you cook meat and other vegetables in a pot with water, and then eat it with a sauce you make), and for some reason, the Elders who were there ordered the big menu. We couldn't eat it all! ><' But I persevered, and it was all eaten. I think I ate most of it. Haha. Then, we had a lesson with Yuuko, and then we went to District meeting, and then we visited someone the Elders had found housing. It was busy. Well, the lesson went really well. Then on Wednesday, we went back to visit Yuuko with a member, Sister Gaitau ! Hooray! Thursday, weekly Planning and various other things. :) Friday, we visited the lady mentioned before again, taught a lesson, but then she told us not to come back again. So, she said she wasn't interested. It was sad. We did our best to testify, and also relate the gospel to her, but those who aren't ready just are not ready yet. Also! I got to go on exchanges with Sister Magleby!! And I learned a ton from her. She is so dendo Fire! (Mission fire) she knows way well how to House, and sticks straight to the purpose. I learned a lot. I hope to go on exchanges with her again! Also, I got to partipcate in ワクワククッキング in Atsugi, because of the exchange. We made a ton of stained glass cookies with a couple of investigators and the ward mission leader. It was great. I also got to participate in two lessons! It was amazing How well the Atsugi sisters plan. So, Sunday was good, and at church we didn't have any investigators come, which was way sad! We were really hoping that our friend would come, but she decided to not come suddenly. But when she does, it will be amazing! Love you all, enjoy the pictures. Dear Family! And Friends! Dear Family and Friends,
Today, we had zone Pday, climbed a mountain, sang hymns, took pictures, but the best thing was the discussion we had. At the top, we sat under a pavilion and discussed how we can, as a zone, level up, and continue on to he next step. In becoming the missionaries we can become. I loved it. Especially when we all went down the giant slide at the end, one by one. so fun! I had needed that kind of break. Nothing makes you feel better than revelation and feeling the Spirit through hymns. :) sung by a group of missionaries. Well, not too much time today, unfortunately. :) but, I know hat the Savior lives. We had a great sacrament meeting, and there were a couple of other speakers, besides me, who were all able to testify about the atonement. I love the Savior. We can't pay for what we can't do right. We have no ability to do so, but through the Savior, we can. I love this gospel. It has changed my life. I know that God loves all His children. Love, Sister Blake |
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January 2019
Sister Blake
"You are hereby called to serve in the Japan Tokyo South Mission." Categories |